Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay on Tuesday asked the State government to provide a solution to the iron ore transportation at Pilgao, Bicholim within the ambit of law. At the same time, the court made it clear that the conditions of the Environmental Clearance (EC) cannot be violated.
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However, the Truck Owners’ Association of Sesa Mining interpreted the order that the iron ore transportation will restart from the main road, claiming that the government has given them the main road for transportation.
After the court disposed of both the writ petitions, Truck Owners’ Association of Sesa Mining president Subhash Kinalkar said that the transportation will continue even as the government will find an appropriate solution.
“After 22 days of halt by the farmers, we started ore transportation from December 13 after the Directorate of Mines and Geology allowed us to use the main road,” Kinalkar said.
He said that the Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the Court that the government will take adequate precautions and find a solution to the transportation issue.
“We have been given a route by the Directorate of Mines and Geology and transportation will not stop,” Kinalkar said.
“The Advocate General has told the Court that discussion to use the road mentioned in the EC conditions is on and within a short time the route will be allowed. It is up to the government to decide,” Kinalkar said.
On the other hand, Adv Ajay Prabhugaonkar representing Pilgao farmers said that the High Court has asked the government to find a solution to the transportation issue.
“The onus is on the State government to provide a solution. We will wait for the government decision and we will approach the High Court for more clarity,” he said.
Environmentalist Ramesh Gauns claimed that the Court has clarified that the EC conditions cannot be violated. It was unfortunate the government had allowed transportation by the main road which was illegal. The High Court has told the government to find a solution within the ambit of law. It means that the transportation will stop and bring relief to the motorists particularly two-wheeler riders.
Meanwhile, Vedanta Sesa Goa has clarified that iron ore being transported originates from its Bicholim Mining Block-1 and is not sourced from e-auctioned material. The public road stretch being utilised for transportation has been carefully studied and approved by all relevant authorities.
The company stated that a consultative process has been undertaken to determine the compensation amount, which will be released in a phased manner as per agreement with the farmers.
